Terence O'Neill

Terence O'Neill (10 September 1914-12 June 1990) was Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from 25 March 1963 to 1 May 1969, succeeding Basil Brooke and preceding James Chichester-Clark. He was also leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 1963 to 1969.

Biography
Terence O'Neill was born in London, England in 1914, and he was educated at Eton College. He served in World War II in the Irish Guards, achieving the rank of captain. He was elected to the Stormont in Northern Ireland for the Ulster Unionist Party in 1946, and became Minister of Finance in 1956, before succeeding Basil Brooke as Prime Minister. He was seen as a reformer who wished to remedy some of the grievances of the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland. He tried to develop economic relations with the Irish Republic, and met with Taoiseach Sean Lemass in 1965. However, his commitment to liberal reforms remained confined to rhetoric, rather than structural change. Still, even the language of accomodation proved controversial within his own ranks, which eventually forced him to resign in April 1969, to be succeeded by James Chichester-Clark. He died in Lymington, England in 1990 at the age of 75.